diff --git a/assets/icons/circle_stroke2_corner0_rounded.svg b/assets/icons/circle_stroke2_corner0_rounded.svg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..98fe755b09
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/icons/circle_stroke2_corner0_rounded.svg
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path fill="#000" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M12 4a8 8 0 1 0 0 16 8 8 0 0 0 0-16ZM2 12C2 6.477 6.477 2 12 2s10 4.477 10 10-4.477 10-10 10S2 17.523 2 12Z" clip-rule="evenodd"/></svg>
diff --git a/src/components/icons/Circle.tsx b/src/components/icons/Circle.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..93d837119e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/icons/Circle.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+import {createSinglePathSVG} from './TEMPLATE'
+
+export const Circle_Stroke2_Corner0_Rounded = createSinglePathSVG({
+  path: 'M12 4a8 8 0 1 0 0 16 8 8 0 0 0 0-16ZM2 12C2 6.477 6.477 2 12 2s10 4.477 10 10-4.477 10-10 10S2 17.523 2 12Z',
+})
diff --git a/src/lib/strings/handles.ts b/src/lib/strings/handles.ts
index 78a2e1a09a..7666bc7084 100644
--- a/src/lib/strings/handles.ts
+++ b/src/lib/strings/handles.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 // https://github.com/bluesky-social/indigo/blob/main/atproto/syntax/handle.go#L10
 import {forceLTR} from '#/lib/strings/bidi'
 
+export * from './reserved'
+
 const VALIDATE_REGEX =
   /^([a-zA-Z0-9]([a-zA-Z0-9-]{0,61}[a-zA-Z0-9])?\.)+[a-zA-Z]([a-zA-Z0-9-]{0,61}[a-zA-Z0-9])?$/
 
@@ -34,7 +36,8 @@ export function sanitizeHandle(handle: string, prefix = ''): string {
 export interface IsValidHandle {
   handleChars: boolean
   hyphenStartOrEnd: boolean
-  frontLength: boolean
+  frontLengthLongEnough: boolean
+  frontLengthNotTooLong: boolean
   totalLength: boolean
   overall: boolean
 }
@@ -50,7 +53,8 @@ export function validateServiceHandle(
     handleChars:
       !str || (VALIDATE_REGEX.test(fullHandle) && !str.includes('.')),
     hyphenStartOrEnd: !str.startsWith('-') && !str.endsWith('-'),
-    frontLength: str.length >= 3 && str.length <= MAX_SERVICE_HANDLE_LENGTH,
+    frontLengthLongEnough: str.length >= 3,
+    frontLengthNotTooLong: str.length <= MAX_SERVICE_HANDLE_LENGTH,
     totalLength: fullHandle.length <= 253,
   }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/strings/reserved.ts b/src/lib/strings/reserved.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a0954ed35f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/strings/reserved.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,1066 @@
+// reserved handles for Bluesky PBC's PDS implementation
+// copied from: https://github.com/bluesky-social/atproto/blob/main/packages/pds/src/handle/reserved.ts
+
+const atpSpecific = [
+  'at',
+  'atp',
+  'plc',
+  'pds',
+  'did',
+  'repo',
+  'tid',
+  'nsid',
+  'xrpc',
+  'lex',
+  'lexicon',
+  'bsky',
+  'bluesky',
+  'handle',
+]
+
+// naively pulled from: https://radwebhosting.com/client_area/knowledgebase/196/List-of-Banned-Subdomain-Prefixes.html
+const commonlyReserved = [
+  'about',
+  'abuse',
+  'access',
+  'account',
+  'accounts',
+  'acme',
+  'activate',
+  'activities',
+  'activity',
+  'ad',
+  'add',
+  'address',
+  'adm',
+  'admanager',
+  'admin',
+  'administration',
+  'administrator',
+  'administrators',
+  'admins',
+  'ads',
+  'adsense',
+  'adult',
+  'advertising',
+  'adwords',
+  'affiliate',
+  'affiliatepage',
+  'affiliates',
+  'afp',
+  'ajax',
+  'all',
+  'alpha',
+  'analysis',
+  'analytics',
+  'android',
+  'anon',
+  'anonymous',
+  'answer',
+  'answers',
+  'ap',
+  'api',
+  'apis',
+  'app',
+  'appengine',
+  'appnews',
+  'apps',
+  'archive',
+  'archives',
+  'article',
+  'asdf',
+  'asset',
+  'assets',
+  'auth',
+  'authentication',
+  'avatar',
+  'backup',
+  'bank',
+  'banner',
+  'banners',
+  'base',
+  'beginners',
+  'beta',
+  'billing',
+  'bin',
+  'binaries',
+  'binary',
+  'blackberry',
+  'blog',
+  'blogs',
+  'blogsearch',
+  'board',
+  'book',
+  'bookmark',
+  'bookmarks',
+  'books',
+  'bot',
+  'bots',
+  'bug',
+  'bugs',
+  'business',
+  'buy',
+  'buzz',
+  'cache',
+  'calendar',
+  'call',
+  'campaign',
+  'cancel',
+  'captcha',
+  'career',
+  'careers',
+  'cart',
+  'catalog',
+  'catalogs',
+  'categories',
+  'category',
+  'cdn',
+  'cgi',
+  'cgi-bin',
+  'changelog',
+  'chart',
+  'charts',
+  'chat',
+  'check',
+  'checked',
+  'checking',
+  'checkout',
+  'client',
+  'cliente',
+  'clients',
+  'clients1',
+  'cnarne',
+  'code',
+  'comercial',
+  'comment',
+  'comments',
+  'communities',
+  'community',
+  'company',
+  'compare',
+  'compras',
+  'config',
+  'configuration',
+  'confirm',
+  'confirmation',
+  'connect',
+  'contact',
+  'contacts',
+  'contactus',
+  'contact-us',
+  'contact_us',
+  'content',
+  'contest',
+  'contribute',
+  'contributor',
+  'contributors',
+  'coppa',
+  'copyright',
+  'copyrights',
+  'core',
+  'corp',
+  'countries',
+  'country',
+  'cpanel',
+  'create',
+  'css',
+  'cssproxy',
+  'customise',
+  'customize',
+  'dashboard',
+  'data',
+  'db',
+  'default',
+  'delete',
+  'demo',
+  'design',
+  'designer',
+  'desktop',
+  'destroy',
+  'dev',
+  'devel',
+  'developer',
+  'developers',
+  'devs',
+  'diagram',
+  'diary',
+  'dict',
+  'dictionary',
+  'die',
+  'dir',
+  'directory',
+  'direct_messages',
+  'direct-messages',
+  'dist',
+  'diversity',
+  'dl',
+  'dmca',
+  'doc',
+  'docs',
+  'documentation',
+  'documentations',
+  'documents',
+  'domain',
+  'domains',
+  'donate',
+  'download',
+  'downloads',
+  'e',
+  'e-mail',
+  'earth',
+  'ecommerce',
+  'edit',
+  'edits',
+  'editor',
+  'edu',
+  'education',
+  'email',
+  'embed',
+  'embedded',
+  'employment',
+  'employments',
+  'empty',
+  'enable',
+  'encrypted',
+  'end',
+  'engine',
+  'enterprise',
+  'enterprises',
+  'entries',
+  'entry',
+  'error',
+  'errorlog',
+  'errors',
+  'eval',
+  'event',
+  'example',
+  'examplecommunity',
+  'exampleopenid',
+  'examplesyn',
+  'examplesyndicated',
+  'exampleusername',
+  'exchange',
+  'exit',
+  'explore',
+  'faq',
+  'faqs',
+  'favorite',
+  'favorites',
+  'favourite',
+  'favourites',
+  'feature',
+  'features',
+  'feed',
+  'feedback',
+  'feedburner',
+  'feedproxy',
+  'feeds',
+  'file',
+  'files',
+  'finance',
+  'folder',
+  'folders',
+  'first',
+  'following',
+  'forgot',
+  'form',
+  'forms',
+  'forum',
+  'forums',
+  'founder',
+  'free',
+  'friend',
+  'friends',
+  'ftp',
+  'fuck',
+  'fun',
+  'fusion',
+  'gadget',
+  'gadgets',
+  'game',
+  'games',
+  'gears',
+  'general',
+  'geographic',
+  'get',
+  'gettingstarted',
+  'gift',
+  'gifts',
+  'gist',
+  'git',
+  'github',
+  'gmail',
+  'go',
+  'golang',
+  'goto',
+  'gov',
+  'graph',
+  'graphs',
+  'group',
+  'groups',
+  'guest',
+  'guests',
+  'guide',
+  'guides',
+  'hack',
+  'hacks',
+  'head',
+  'help',
+  'home',
+  'homepage',
+  'host',
+  'hosting',
+  'hostmaster',
+  'hostname',
+  'howto',
+  'how-to',
+  'how_to',
+  'html',
+  'htrnl',
+  'http',
+  'httpd',
+  'https',
+  'i',
+  'iamges',
+  'icon',
+  'icons',
+  'id',
+  'idea',
+  'ideas',
+  'im',
+  'image',
+  'images',
+  'img',
+  'imap',
+  'inbox',
+  'inboxes',
+  'index',
+  'indexes',
+  'info',
+  'information',
+  'inquiry',
+  'intranet',
+  'investor',
+  'investors',
+  'invitation',
+  'invitations',
+  'invite',
+  'invoice',
+  'invoices',
+  'imac',
+  'ios',
+  'ipad',
+  'iphone',
+  'irc',
+  'irnages',
+  'irng',
+  'is',
+  'issue',
+  'issues',
+  'it',
+  'item',
+  'items',
+  'java',
+  'javascript',
+  'job',
+  'jobs',
+  'join',
+  'js',
+  'json',
+  'jump',
+  'kb',
+  'knowledge-base',
+  'knowledgebase',
+  'lab',
+  'labs',
+  'language',
+  'languages',
+  'last',
+  'ldap_status',
+  'ldap-status',
+  'ldapstatus',
+  'legal',
+  'license',
+  'licenses',
+  'link',
+  'links',
+  'linux',
+  'list',
+  'lists',
+  'livejournal',
+  'lj',
+  'local',
+  'locale',
+  'location',
+  'log',
+  'log-in',
+  'log-out',
+  'login',
+  'logout',
+  'logs',
+  'log_in',
+  'log_out',
+  'm',
+  'mac',
+  'macos',
+  'macosx',
+  'mac-os',
+  'mac-os-x',
+  'mac_os_x',
+  'mail',
+  'mailer',
+  'mailing',
+  'main',
+  'maintenance',
+  'manage',
+  'manager',
+  'manual',
+  'map',
+  'maps',
+  'marketing',
+  'master',
+  'me',
+  'media',
+  'member',
+  'members',
+  'memories',
+  'memory',
+  'merchandise',
+  'message',
+  'messages',
+  'messenger',
+  'mg',
+  'microblog',
+  'microblogs',
+  'mine',
+  'mis',
+  'misc',
+  'mms',
+  'mob',
+  'mobile',
+  'model',
+  'models',
+  'money',
+  'movie',
+  'movies',
+  'mp3',
+  'mp4',
+  'msg',
+  'msn',
+  'music',
+  'mx',
+  'my',
+  'mymme',
+  'mysql',
+  'name',
+  'named',
+  'nan',
+  'navi',
+  'navigation',
+  'net',
+  'network',
+  'networks',
+  'new',
+  'news',
+  'newsletter',
+  'nick',
+  'nickname',
+  'nil',
+  'none',
+  'notes',
+  'noticias',
+  'notification',
+  'notifications',
+  'notify',
+  'ns',
+  'ns1',
+  'ns2',
+  'ns3',
+  'ns4',
+  'ns5',
+  'null',
+  'oauth',
+  'oauth-clients',
+  'oauth_clients',
+  'ocsp',
+  'offer',
+  'offers',
+  'official',
+  'old',
+  'online',
+  'openid',
+  'operator',
+  'option',
+  'options',
+  'order',
+  'orders',
+  'org',
+  'organization',
+  'organizations',
+  'other',
+  'overview',
+  'owner',
+  'owners',
+  'p0rn',
+  'pack',
+  'page',
+  'pager',
+  'pages',
+  'paid',
+  'panel',
+  'partner',
+  'partnerpage',
+  'partners',
+  'password',
+  'patch',
+  'pay',
+  'payment',
+  'people',
+  'perl',
+  'person',
+  'phone',
+  'photo',
+  'photoalbum',
+  'photos',
+  'php',
+  'phpmyadmin',
+  'phppgadmin',
+  'phpredisadmin',
+  'pic',
+  'pics',
+  'picture',
+  'pictures',
+  'ping',
+  'pixel',
+  'places',
+  'plan',
+  'plans',
+  'plugin',
+  'plugins',
+  'podcasts',
+  'policies',
+  'policy',
+  'pop',
+  'pop3',
+  'popular',
+  'porn',
+  'portal',
+  'portals',
+  'post',
+  'postfix',
+  'postmaster',
+  'posts',
+  'pr',
+  'pr0n',
+  'premium',
+  'press',
+  'price',
+  'pricing',
+  'principles',
+  'print',
+  'privacy',
+  'privacy-policy',
+  'privacypolicy',
+  'privacy_policy',
+  'private',
+  'prod',
+  'product',
+  'production',
+  'products',
+  'profile',
+  'profiles',
+  'project',
+  'projects',
+  'promo',
+  'promotions',
+  'proxies',
+  'proxy',
+  'pub',
+  'public',
+  'purchase',
+  'purpose',
+  'put',
+  'python',
+  'queries',
+  'query',
+  'radio',
+  'random',
+  'ranking',
+  'read',
+  'reader',
+  'readme',
+  'recent',
+  'recruit',
+  'recruitment',
+  'redirect',
+  'register',
+  'registration',
+  'release',
+  'remove',
+  'replies',
+  'report',
+  'reports',
+  'repositories',
+  'repository',
+  'req',
+  'request',
+  'requests',
+  'research',
+  'reset',
+  'resolve',
+  'resolver',
+  'review',
+  'rnail',
+  'rnicrosoft',
+  'roc',
+  'root',
+  'rss',
+  'ruby',
+  'rule',
+  'sag',
+  'sale',
+  'sales',
+  'sample',
+  'samples',
+  'sandbox',
+  'save',
+  'scholar',
+  'school',
+  'schools',
+  'script',
+  'scripts',
+  'search',
+  'secure',
+  'security',
+  'self',
+  'seminars',
+  'send',
+  'server',
+  'server-info',
+  'server_info',
+  'server-status',
+  'server_status',
+  'servers',
+  'service',
+  'services',
+  'session',
+  'sessions',
+  'setting',
+  'settings',
+  'setup',
+  'share',
+  'shop',
+  'shopping',
+  'shortcut',
+  'shortcuts',
+  'show',
+  'sign-in',
+  'sign-up',
+  'signin',
+  'signout',
+  'signup',
+  'sign_in',
+  'sign_up',
+  'site',
+  'sitemap',
+  'sitemaps',
+  'sitenews',
+  'sites',
+  'sketchup',
+  'sky',
+  'slash',
+  'slashinvoice',
+  'slut',
+  'smartphone',
+  'sms',
+  'smtp',
+  'soap',
+  'software',
+  'sorry',
+  'source',
+  'spec',
+  'special',
+  'spreadsheet',
+  'spreadsheets',
+  'sql',
+  'src',
+  'srntp',
+  'ssh',
+  'ssl',
+  'ssladmin',
+  'ssladministrator',
+  'sslwebmaster',
+  'ssytem',
+  'staff',
+  'stage',
+  'staging',
+  'start',
+  'stat',
+  'state',
+  'static',
+  'statistics',
+  'stats',
+  'status',
+  'store',
+  'stores',
+  'stories',
+  'style',
+  'styleguide',
+  'styles',
+  'stylesheet',
+  'stylesheets',
+  'subdomain',
+  'subscribe',
+  'subscription',
+  'subscriptions',
+  'suggest',
+  'suggestqueries',
+  'support',
+  'survey',
+  'surveys',
+  'surveytool',
+  'svn',
+  'swf',
+  'syn',
+  'sync',
+  'syndicated',
+  'sys',
+  'sysadmin',
+  'sysadministrator',
+  'sysadmins',
+  'system',
+  'tablet',
+  'tablets',
+  'tag',
+  'tags',
+  'talk',
+  'talkgadget',
+  'task',
+  'tasks',
+  'team',
+  'teams',
+  'tech',
+  'telnet',
+  'term',
+  'terms',
+  'terms-of-service',
+  'termsofservice',
+  'terms_of_service',
+  'test',
+  'testing',
+  'tests',
+  'text',
+  'theme',
+  'themes',
+  'thread',
+  'threads',
+  'ticket',
+  'tickets',
+  'tmp',
+  'todo',
+  'to-do',
+  'to_do',
+  'toml',
+  'tool',
+  'toolbar',
+  'toolbars',
+  'tools',
+  'top',
+  'topic',
+  'topics',
+  'tos',
+  'tour',
+  'trac',
+  'translate',
+  'trace',
+  'translation',
+  'translations',
+  'translator',
+  'trends',
+  'tutorial',
+  'tux',
+  'tv',
+  'twitter',
+  'txt',
+  'ul',
+  'undef',
+  'unfollow',
+  'unsubscribe',
+  'update',
+  'updates',
+  'upgrade',
+  'upgrades',
+  'upi',
+  'upload',
+  'uploads',
+  'url',
+  'usage',
+  'user',
+  'username',
+  'usernames',
+  'users',
+  'uuid',
+  'validation',
+  'validations',
+  'ver',
+  'version',
+  'video',
+  'videos',
+  'video-stats',
+  'visitor',
+  'visitors',
+  'voice',
+  'volunteer',
+  'volunteers',
+  'w',
+  'watch',
+  'wave',
+  'weather',
+  'web',
+  'webdisk',
+  'webhook',
+  'webhooks',
+  'webmail',
+  'webmaster',
+  'webmasters',
+  'webrnail',
+  'website',
+  'websites',
+  'welcome',
+  'whm',
+  'whois',
+  'widget',
+  'widgets',
+  'wifi',
+  'wiki',
+  'wikis',
+  'win',
+  'windows',
+  'word',
+  'work',
+  'works',
+  'workshop',
+  'wpad',
+  'ww',
+  'wws',
+  'www',
+  'wwws',
+  'wwww',
+  'xfn',
+  'xhtml',
+  'xhtrnl',
+  'xml',
+  'xmpp',
+  'xpg',
+  'xxx',
+  'yaml',
+  'year',
+  'yml',
+  'you',
+  'yourdomain',
+  'yourname',
+  'yoursite',
+  'yourusername',
+]
+
+const famousAccounts = [
+  // reserving some large twitter accounts (top 100 by followers according to wikidata dump)
+  '10ronaldinho',
+  '3gerardpique',
+  'aclu',
+  'adele',
+  'akshaykumar',
+  'aliaa08',
+  'aliciakeys',
+  'amitshah',
+  'andresiniesta8',
+  'anushkasharma',
+  'arianagrande',
+  'arrahman',
+  'arvindkejriwal',
+  'avrillavigne',
+  'barackobama',
+  'bbcbreaking',
+  'bbcworld',
+  'beingsalmankhan',
+  'billgates',
+  'britneyspears',
+  'brunomars',
+  'bts_bighit',
+  'bts_twt',
+  'championsleague',
+  'chrisbrown',
+  'cnnbrk',
+  'coldplay',
+  'conanobrien',
+  'cristiano',
+  'danieltosh',
+  'davidguetta',
+  'ddlovato',
+  'deepikapadukone',
+  'drake',
+  'elisapie',
+  'ellendegeneres',
+  'elonmusk',
+  'eminem',
+  'emmawatson',
+  'fcbarcelona',
+  'foxnews',
+  'harry_styles',
+  'hillaryclinton',
+  'iamsrk',
+  'ihrithik',
+  'imvkohli',
+  'instagram',
+  'jimmyfallon',
+  'jlo',
+  'joebiden',
+  'jtimberlake',
+  'justinbieber',
+  'kaka',
+  'kanyewest',
+  'katyperry',
+  'kendalljenner',
+  'kevinhart4real',
+  'khloekardashian',
+  'kimkardashian',
+  'kingjames',
+  'kourtneykardash',
+  'kyliejenner',
+  'ladygaga',
+  'liampayne',
+  'liltunechi',
+  'manutd',
+  'mariahcarey',
+  'mileycyrus',
+  'mohamadalarefe',
+  'narendramodi',
+  'nasa',
+  'nba',
+  'neymarjr',
+  'nfl',
+  'niallofficial',
+  'nickiminaj',
+  'npr',
+  'nytimes',
+  'onedirection',
+  'oprah',
+  'pink',
+  'pitbull',
+  'playstation',
+  'pmoindia',
+  'premierleague',
+  'priyankachopra',
+  'realdonaldtrump',
+  'ricky_martin',
+  'rihanna',
+  'sachin_rt',
+  'selenagomez',
+  'shakira',
+  'shawnmendes',
+  'sportscenter',
+  'srbachchan',
+  'subhisharma100',
+  'taylorswift13',
+  'theeconomist',
+  'twitter',
+  'virendersehwag',
+  'whitehouse45',
+  'wizkhalifa',
+  'youtube',
+  'zaynmalik',
+
+  // some top instagram (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most-followed_Instagram_accounts)
+  'beyonce',
+  'billieeilish',
+  'leomessi',
+  'natgeo',
+  'nike',
+  'snoopdogg',
+  'taylorswift',
+  'therock',
+
+  // ... and a couple more prominent accounts, subjectively
+  '10downingstreet',
+  'aoc',
+  'carterjwm',
+  'dril',
+  'gretathunberg',
+  'kamalaharris',
+  'kremlinrussia_e',
+  'potus',
+  'rondesantisfl',
+  'ukraine',
+  'washingtonpost',
+  'yousuck2020',
+  'zelenskyyua',
+
+  // top japan-specific accounts
+  'akiko_lawson',
+  'ariyoshihiroiki',
+  'asahi',
+  'dozle_official',
+  'famima_now',
+  'ff_xiv_jp',
+  'fujitv',
+  'gigazine',
+  'hajimesyacho',
+  'hikakin',
+  'jocx',
+  'jotx',
+  'kiyo_saiore',
+  'mainichi',
+  'matsu_bouzu',
+  'naomiosaka',
+  'nhk',
+  'nikkei',
+  'nintendo',
+  'ntv',
+  'oowareware1945',
+  'pamyurin',
+  'poke_times',
+  'rolaworld',
+  'seikintv',
+  'starbucksjapan',
+  'tbs',
+  'tbs_pr',
+  'tvasahi',
+  'tvtokyo',
+  'yokoono',
+  'yomiuri_online',
+
+  // top brazil-specific accounts
+  'brasildefato',
+  'claudialeitte',
+  'correio',
+  'em_com',
+  'estadao',
+  'folha',
+  'gazetadopovo',
+  'ivetesangalo',
+  'jairbolsonaro',
+  'jornaldobrasil',
+  'jornaloglobo',
+  'lucianohuck',
+  'lulaoficial',
+  'marcosmion',
+  'paulocoelho',
+  'portalr7',
+  'rede_globo',
+  'zerohora',
+]
+
+/**
+ * Check if a handle is will be rejected by Bluesky PBC's PDS implementation
+ * Note: other PDSes may have different restrictions, so we should only apply this check
+ * if signing up to `bsky.social`
+ *
+ * See: https://github.com/bluesky-social/atproto/blob/main/packages/pds/src/handle/reserved.ts
+ */
+export function isHandleReserved(prefix: string): boolean {
+  return (
+    atpSpecific.includes(prefix) ||
+    commonlyReserved.includes(prefix) ||
+    famousAccounts.includes(prefix)
+  )
+}
diff --git a/src/logger/metrics.ts b/src/logger/metrics.ts
index dfca1f7d8e..3c892bdb57 100644
--- a/src/logger/metrics.ts
+++ b/src/logger/metrics.ts
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ export type MetricEvents = {
     backgroundCount: number
   }
   'signup:handleTaken': {}
+  'signup:handleReserved': {}
   'signin:hostingProviderPressed': {
     hostingProviderDidChange: boolean
   }
diff --git a/src/screens/Signup/BackNextButtons.tsx b/src/screens/Signup/BackNextButtons.tsx
index 888b9071e1..5a85a85d1f 100644
--- a/src/screens/Signup/BackNextButtons.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/Signup/BackNextButtons.tsx
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import {Loader} from '#/components/Loader'
 export interface BackNextButtonsProps {
   hideNext?: boolean
   showRetry?: boolean
-  isLoading: boolean
+  isLoading?: boolean
   isNextDisabled?: boolean
   onBackPress: () => void
   onNextPress?: () => void
diff --git a/src/screens/Signup/StepCaptcha/index.tsx b/src/screens/Signup/StepCaptcha/index.tsx
index 388deecaff..e900b96c09 100644
--- a/src/screens/Signup/StepCaptcha/index.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/Signup/StepCaptcha/index.tsx
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ export function StepCaptcha() {
 
   return (
     <ScreenTransition>
-      <View style={[a.gap_lg]}>
+      <View style={[a.gap_lg, a.pt_lg]}>
         <View
           style={[
             a.w_full,
diff --git a/src/screens/Signup/StepHandle.tsx b/src/screens/Signup/StepHandle.tsx
index 8bf0c3364e..22f8859601 100644
--- a/src/screens/Signup/StepHandle.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/Signup/StepHandle.tsx
@@ -1,44 +1,72 @@
-import React, {useRef} from 'react'
+import {useState} from 'react'
 import {View} from 'react-native'
+import Animated, {
+  FadeIn,
+  FadeOut,
+  LayoutAnimationConfig,
+  LinearTransition,
+} from 'react-native-reanimated'
 import {msg, Plural, Trans} from '@lingui/macro'
 import {useLingui} from '@lingui/react'
 
 import {
   createFullHandle,
+  isHandleReserved,
   MAX_SERVICE_HANDLE_LENGTH,
   validateServiceHandle,
 } from '#/lib/strings/handles'
 import {logger} from '#/logger'
+import {isNative} from '#/platform/detection'
+import {useHandleAvailabilityQuery} from '#/state/queries/handle-availablility'
 import {useAgent} from '#/state/session'
 import {ScreenTransition} from '#/screens/Login/ScreenTransition'
 import {useSignupContext} from '#/screens/Signup/state'
-import {atoms as a, useTheme} from '#/alf'
+import {atoms as a, platform, tokens, useTheme} from '#/alf'
 import * as TextField from '#/components/forms/TextField'
 import {useThrottledValue} from '#/components/hooks/useThrottledValue'
 import {At_Stroke2_Corner0_Rounded as At} from '#/components/icons/At'
-import {Check_Stroke2_Corner0_Rounded as Check} from '#/components/icons/Check'
-import {TimesLarge_Stroke2_Corner0_Rounded as Times} from '#/components/icons/Times'
+import {Circle_Stroke2_Corner0_Rounded as CircleIcon} from '#/components/icons/Circle'
+import {CircleCheck_Stroke2_Corner0_Rounded as CircleCheckIcon} from '#/components/icons/CircleCheck'
+import {CircleX_Stroke2_Corner0_Rounded as CircleXIcon} from '#/components/icons/CircleX'
+import {Loader} from '#/components/Loader'
 import {Text} from '#/components/Typography'
 import {BackNextButtons} from './BackNextButtons'
 
 export function StepHandle() {
   const {_} = useLingui()
-  const t = useTheme()
   const {state, dispatch} = useSignupContext()
   const agent = useAgent()
-  const handleValueRef = useRef<string>(state.handle)
-  const [draftValue, setDraftValue] = React.useState(state.handle)
-  const isLoading = useThrottledValue(state.isLoading, 500)
+  const [draftValue, setDraftValue] = useState(state.handle)
+  const isNextLoading = useThrottledValue(state.isLoading, 500)
 
-  const onNextPress = React.useCallback(async () => {
-    const handle = handleValueRef.current.trim()
+  const validCheck = validateServiceHandle(draftValue, state.userDomain)
+
+  const {data: isHandleAvailable, isLoading} = useHandleAvailabilityQuery(
+    draftValue,
+    state.userDomain,
+    validCheck.overall,
+  )
+
+  const onNextPress = async () => {
+    if (!isHandleAvailable?.available) return
+
+    const handle = draftValue.trim()
     dispatch({
       type: 'setHandle',
       value: handle,
     })
 
-    const newValidCheck = validateServiceHandle(handle, state.userDomain)
-    if (!newValidCheck.overall) {
+    if (!validCheck.overall) {
+      return
+    }
+
+    if (isHandleReserved(handle)) {
+      dispatch({
+        type: 'setError',
+        value: _(msg`That username is not available`),
+        field: 'handle',
+      })
+      logger.metric('signup:handleReserved', {}, {statsig: true})
       return
     }
 
@@ -52,7 +80,7 @@ export function StepHandle() {
       if (res.data.did) {
         dispatch({
           type: 'setError',
-          value: _(msg`That handle is already taken.`),
+          value: _(msg`That username is already taken`),
           field: 'handle',
         })
         logger.metric('signup:handleTaken', {}, {statsig: true})
@@ -82,17 +110,10 @@ export function StepHandle() {
       return
     }
     dispatch({type: 'next'})
-  }, [
-    _,
-    dispatch,
-    state.activeStep,
-    state.serviceDescription?.phoneVerificationRequired,
-    state.userDomain,
-    agent,
-  ])
+  }
 
-  const onBackPress = React.useCallback(() => {
-    const handle = handleValueRef.current.trim()
+  const onBackPress = () => {
+    const handle = draftValue.trim()
     dispatch({
       type: 'setHandle',
       value: handle,
@@ -103,13 +124,18 @@ export function StepHandle() {
       {activeStep: state.activeStep},
       {statsig: true},
     )
-  }, [dispatch, state.activeStep])
+  }
 
-  const validCheck = validateServiceHandle(draftValue, state.userDomain)
   return (
     <ScreenTransition>
       <View style={[a.gap_lg]}>
+        <Text style={[a.text_sm]}>
+          <Trans>This can be changed at any time.</Trans>
+        </Text>
         <View>
+          <TextField.LabelText>
+            <Trans>Username</Trans>
+          </TextField.LabelText>
           <TextField.Root>
             <TextField.Icon icon={At} />
             <TextField.Input
@@ -118,69 +144,87 @@ export function StepHandle() {
                 if (state.error) {
                   dispatch({type: 'setError', value: ''})
                 }
-
-                // These need to always be in sync.
-                handleValueRef.current = val
-                setDraftValue(val)
+                // replace em dash with double hyphen to fix iOS behaviour
+                setDraftValue(val.replaceAll('—', '--'))
               }}
-              label={_(msg`Type your desired username`)}
+              label="alice.bsky.social"
               defaultValue={draftValue}
               autoCapitalize="none"
               autoCorrect={false}
               autoFocus
               autoComplete="off"
             />
+
+            {draftValue.length > 0 && (
+              <GhostText value={state.userDomain}>{draftValue}</GhostText>
+            )}
           </TextField.Root>
         </View>
-        {draftValue !== '' && (
-          <Text style={[a.text_md]}>
-            <Trans>
-              Your full username will be{' '}
-              <Text style={[a.text_md, a.font_bold]}>
-                @{createFullHandle(draftValue, state.userDomain)}
-              </Text>
-            </Trans>
-          </Text>
-        )}
-
-        {draftValue !== '' && (
-          <View
-            style={[
-              a.w_full,
-              a.rounded_sm,
-              a.border,
-              a.p_md,
-              a.gap_sm,
-              t.atoms.border_contrast_low,
-            ]}>
-            {state.error ? (
-              <View style={[a.w_full, a.flex_row, a.align_center, a.gap_sm]}>
-                <IsValidIcon valid={false} />
-                <Text style={[a.text_md, a.flex_1]}>{state.error}</Text>
-              </View>
-            ) : undefined}
-            {validCheck.hyphenStartOrEnd ? (
-              <View style={[a.w_full, a.flex_row, a.align_center, a.gap_sm]}>
-                <IsValidIcon valid={validCheck.handleChars} />
-                <Text style={[a.text_md, a.flex_1]}>
-                  <Trans>Only contains letters, numbers, and hyphens</Trans>
-                </Text>
-              </View>
-            ) : (
-              <View style={[a.w_full, a.flex_row, a.align_center, a.gap_sm]}>
-                <IsValidIcon valid={validCheck.hyphenStartOrEnd} />
-                <Text style={[a.text_md, a.flex_1]}>
-                  <Trans>Doesn't begin or end with a hyphen</Trans>
-                </Text>
-              </View>
+        <LayoutAnimationConfig skipEntering skipExiting>
+          <View style={[a.gap_sm]}>
+            {state.error && (
+              <Requirement fade>
+                <RequirementIcon state="invalid" />
+                <RequirementText>{state.error}</RequirementText>
+              </Requirement>
             )}
-            <View style={[a.w_full, a.flex_row, a.align_center, a.gap_sm]}>
-              <IsValidIcon
-                valid={validCheck.frontLength && validCheck.totalLength}
+            {(isHandleAvailable || isLoading) && validCheck.overall && (
+              <Requirement fade>
+                <RequirementIcon
+                  state={
+                    isLoading
+                      ? 'loading'
+                      : isHandleAvailable?.available
+                        ? 'valid'
+                        : 'invalid'
+                  }
+                />
+                <RequirementText>
+                  {isLoading ? (
+                    <Trans>Checking...</Trans>
+                  ) : isHandleAvailable?.available ? (
+                    <Trans>Available!</Trans>
+                  ) : isHandleAvailable?.reason === 'taken' ? (
+                    <Trans>Taken</Trans>
+                  ) : (
+                    <Trans>Invalid</Trans>
+                  )}
+                </RequirementText>
+              </Requirement>
+            )}
+            <Requirement>
+              <RequirementIcon
+                state={
+                  validCheck.handleChars && validCheck.hyphenStartOrEnd
+                    ? !validCheck.frontLengthLongEnough
+                      ? 'initial'
+                      : 'valid'
+                    : 'invalid'
+                }
               />
-              {!validCheck.totalLength ||
-              draftValue.length > MAX_SERVICE_HANDLE_LENGTH ? (
-                <Text style={[a.text_md, a.flex_1]}>
+
+              {!validCheck.hyphenStartOrEnd ? (
+                <RequirementText>
+                  <Trans>Doesn't begin or end with a hyphen</Trans>
+                </RequirementText>
+              ) : (
+                <RequirementText>
+                  <Trans>Only contains letters, numbers, and hyphens</Trans>
+                </RequirementText>
+              )}
+            </Requirement>
+            <Requirement>
+              <RequirementIcon
+                state={
+                  !validCheck.frontLengthLongEnough
+                    ? 'initial'
+                    : validCheck.frontLengthNotTooLong && validCheck.totalLength
+                      ? 'valid'
+                      : 'invalid'
+                }
+              />
+              {!validCheck.frontLengthNotTooLong || !validCheck.totalLength ? (
+                <RequirementText>
                   <Trans>
                     No longer than{' '}
                     <Plural
@@ -188,19 +232,19 @@ export function StepHandle() {
                       other="# characters"
                     />
                   </Trans>
-                </Text>
+                </RequirementText>
               ) : (
-                <Text style={[a.text_md, a.flex_1]}>
+                <RequirementText>
                   <Trans>At least 3 characters</Trans>
-                </Text>
+                </RequirementText>
               )}
-            </View>
+            </Requirement>
           </View>
-        )}
+        </LayoutAnimationConfig>
       </View>
       <BackNextButtons
-        isLoading={isLoading}
-        isNextDisabled={!validCheck.overall}
+        isLoading={isNextLoading}
+        isNextDisabled={!validCheck.overall || !!state.error}
         onBackPress={onBackPress}
         onNextPress={onNextPress}
       />
@@ -208,10 +252,105 @@ export function StepHandle() {
   )
 }
 
-function IsValidIcon({valid}: {valid: boolean}) {
-  const t = useTheme()
-  if (!valid) {
-    return <Times size="md" style={{color: t.palette.negative_500}} />
-  }
-  return <Check size="md" style={{color: t.palette.positive_700}} />
+function Requirement({
+  children,
+  fade,
+}: {
+  children: React.ReactNode
+  fade?: boolean
+}) {
+  return (
+    <Animated.View
+      style={[a.w_full, a.flex_row, a.align_center, a.gap_sm]}
+      layout={isNative ? LinearTransition : undefined}
+      entering={fade && isNative ? FadeIn : undefined}
+      exiting={fade && isNative ? FadeOut : undefined}>
+      {children}
+    </Animated.View>
+  )
+}
+
+function RequirementText({children}: {children: React.ReactNode}) {
+  const t = useTheme()
+  return (
+    <Text style={[a.text_sm, a.flex_1, t.atoms.text_contrast_medium]}>
+      <Trans>{children}</Trans>
+    </Text>
+  )
+}
+
+function RequirementIcon({
+  state,
+}: {
+  state: 'initial' | 'valid' | 'invalid' | 'loading'
+}) {
+  const t = useTheme()
+
+  switch (state) {
+    case 'initial':
+      return <CircleIcon size="sm" style={t.atoms.text_contrast_low} />
+    case 'valid':
+      return (
+        <CircleCheckIcon size="sm" style={{color: t.palette.positive_700}} />
+      )
+    case 'invalid':
+      return <CircleXIcon size="sm" style={{color: t.palette.negative_500}} />
+    case 'loading':
+      return <Loader size="sm" style={t.atoms.text_contrast_low} />
+  }
+}
+
+function GhostText({children, value}: {children: string; value: string}) {
+  const t = useTheme()
+  // eslint-disable-next-line bsky-internal/avoid-unwrapped-text
+  return (
+    <View
+      style={[
+        a.pointer_events_none,
+        a.absolute,
+        a.z_10,
+        {
+          paddingLeft: platform({
+            native:
+              // input padding
+              tokens.space.md +
+              // icon
+              tokens.space.xl +
+              // icon padding
+              tokens.space.xs +
+              // text input padding
+              tokens.space.xs,
+            web:
+              // icon
+              tokens.space.xl +
+              // icon padding
+              tokens.space.xs +
+              // text input padding
+              tokens.space.xs,
+          }),
+        },
+        a.pr_xs,
+      ]}
+      aria-hidden={true}
+      accessibilityElementsHidden
+      importantForAccessibility="no-hide-descendants">
+      <Text
+        style={[
+          a.text_md,
+          {lineHeight: a.text_md.fontSize * 1.1875},
+          {color: 'transparent'},
+        ]}
+        numberOfLines={1}>
+        {children}
+        <Text
+          style={[
+            t.atoms.text_contrast_low,
+            a.text_md,
+            {lineHeight: a.text_md.fontSize * 1.1875},
+          ]}>
+          {value}
+        </Text>
+      </Text>
+    </View>
+  )
 }
diff --git a/src/screens/Signup/StepInfo/index.tsx b/src/screens/Signup/StepInfo/index.tsx
index f24cd0e45d..cf4a9297e2 100644
--- a/src/screens/Signup/StepInfo/index.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/Signup/StepInfo/index.tsx
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ export function StepInfo({
 
   return (
     <ScreenTransition>
-      <View style={[a.gap_md]}>
+      <View style={[a.gap_md, a.pt_lg]}>
         <FormError error={state.error} />
         <HostingProvider
           minimal
diff --git a/src/screens/Signup/index.tsx b/src/screens/Signup/index.tsx
index 03f4e2cdd2..ecde3f71e2 100644
--- a/src/screens/Signup/index.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/Signup/index.tsx
@@ -143,8 +143,9 @@ export function Signup({onPressBack}: {onPressBack: () => void}) {
               a.pt_2xl,
               !gtMobile && {paddingBottom: 100},
             ]}>
-            <View style={[a.gap_sm, a.pb_3xl]}>
-              <Text style={[a.font_bold, t.atoms.text_contrast_medium]}>
+            <View style={[a.gap_sm, a.pb_sm]}>
+              <Text
+                style={[a.text_sm, a.font_bold, t.atoms.text_contrast_medium]}>
                 <Trans>
                   Step {state.activeStep + 1} of{' '}
                   {state.serviceDescription &&
@@ -153,7 +154,7 @@ export function Signup({onPressBack}: {onPressBack: () => void}) {
                     : '3'}
                 </Trans>
               </Text>
-              <Text style={[a.text_3xl, a.font_bold]}>
+              <Text style={[a.text_3xl, a.font_heavy]}>
                 {state.activeStep === SignupStep.INFO ? (
                   <Trans>Your account</Trans>
                 ) : state.activeStep === SignupStep.HANDLE ? (
diff --git a/src/state/queries/handle-availablility.ts b/src/state/queries/handle-availablility.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6ec2c043ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/state/queries/handle-availablility.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+import {useQuery} from '@tanstack/react-query'
+
+import {createFullHandle, isHandleReserved} from '#/lib/strings/handles'
+import {useAgent} from '#/state/session'
+import {useDebouncedValue} from '#/components/live/utils'
+
+export const RQKEY_handleAvailability = (handle: string) => [
+  'handle-availability',
+  handle,
+]
+
+export function useHandleAvailabilityQuery(
+  name: string,
+  domain: string,
+  enabled: boolean,
+  debounceDelayMs = 500,
+) {
+  name = name.trim()
+  const handle = createFullHandle(name, domain)
+  const debouncedHandle = useDebouncedValue(handle, debounceDelayMs)
+  const agent = useAgent()
+
+  return useQuery({
+    enabled: enabled && handle === debouncedHandle,
+    queryKey: RQKEY_handleAvailability(debouncedHandle),
+    queryFn: async () => {
+      const frontSegment = debouncedHandle.split('.')[0]
+      if (isHandleReserved(frontSegment)) {
+        return {available: false, reason: 'reserved'} as const
+      }
+      try {
+        const res = await agent.resolveHandle({
+          handle: debouncedHandle,
+        })
+
+        if (res.data.did) {
+          return {available: false, reason: 'taken'} as const
+        }
+      } catch {}
+
+      return {available: true} as const
+    },
+  })
+}